Voters wait in line to cast their ballots at the Flawn Academic Center on the University of Texas at Austin campus on Nov. 4, 2014. (AP Photo/ Tamir Kalifa)

(Newser)
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A federal appeals court ruled today that Texas' voter ID law has a "discriminatory" effect on minorities—a victory for President Obama, whose administration took the unusual step of bringing the weight of the Justice Department to fight a wave of new ballot-box restrictions passed in conservative statehouses. The 5th US Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the 2011 Texas law runs afoul of parts of the federal Voting Rights Act, handing down the decision on the eve of the 50th anniversary of the landmark civil rights law. Texas was allowed to use the voter ID law during the 2014 elections, thereby requiring an estimated 13.6 million registered Texas voters to have a photo ID to cast a ballot.

Other Republican-controlled states, including Wisconsin and North Carolina, have passed similar voter ID measures in recent years, but the Texas law signed by then-Gov. Rick Perry is widely viewed as one of the nation's toughest. It requires one of seven forms of approved identification, a list that included concealed carry licenses but not a college student's university ID. Texas Republican Gov. Greg Abbott called it "imperative" that Texas has a voter ID law and said the state will continue fighting for the measure.

I find it laughable that being required to prove your identity before casting your ballot is considered a partisan issue. You can't legally get into a bar, on an airplane, or even rent a Post Office box without a State-issued photo ID. But the most important thing a citizen can do - second, perhaps, only to serving on a jury - we're just supposed to take everyone's word that they are who they claim to be? Yes, you have a right to vote. But you have to BE you in order to have that right. And we have no way of knowing you are who you claim to be unless you prove your identity with a government-issued photo ID. The only realistic reason for opposing this is your desire for those who are legally disqualified from voting to be able to cast a ballot.

KDickley

Aug 6, 2015 7:27 PM CDT

What do the Demwits have against people having to show an I.D. to vote. Could it be Demwit voters would only be able to vote once, and illegals wouldn't be able to vote anymore.?